Coin-testing apparatus



Dct. 28, 1930. V w, MlLTON 1,780,031

COIN TESTING APPARATUS Filed May 20, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l FIGJ INVENTOR 77/o/ /Hs 14 MILTON z (24am ATTORNEY5 Oct. 28, 1930. T. w. MILTON 1,780,031

COIN TESTING APPARATUS Filed May 20, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4

,24 w 5 a a a6 Fuss INVENTOR THO/W75. W. M/L m/v ATTORNEYS Oct. 28, 1930. w, MlLTON I 1,780,031

COIN TESTING APPARATUS Filed May 20, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 F|G.9 I FIGJO IN VEN TOR THOM/75 W. MILTON ATTORNEYS umrsbs mrss PATENT ()FFICE "(THOMAS w. MILTON, or EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS COIN-TESTING APPARATUS 3 Application filed May 20,

- This invention relatesto improvements in fraud prevention means forcoin actuated mechanism, and particularly to coin testing apparatus adapted for use with vending machines. The general purpose of the invention is attained in the automatic rejection of slugs, blanks and the like, which may be attempted to be used for the fraudulent operationof any usualtypeof coin actuated mechanism. f c p An object of the presentinvention is to provide an improved device entirely of a mechanical nature, which is simple, con1- pact, economical in manufacture, and which will automatically rejectfrom the operative portions of the mechanism to which it is applied, all counterfeit, pieces attempted to be substituted for standard coins, in the operation of such mechanism. 7 i

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a device of the class designated, of such a compact. and inexpensive type, that it can be appliedtoa coin actuated mechanism, either at the time of manufacture thereof, ,or which maybe applied, as an ac ccsscry, to coin actuated mechanism already in use. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose recited, which is susceptible of adjustment and regulation according to the physical characteristics of the coin intended for operating the machine to which it is applied.

A still further object of the invention is attained in a novel form of coin-testing device, for an advance determination ofcertain physical characteristicsof the coin or operating element, by..,tlie subjection of such element to a steady pressure, as distin-- guished from an impactor blow apt to result in a defacing action on the regulation coins employed with the machine.

Further objects a'nd advantages of the invention will appear from'thefollowing deailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a. topor plan view of the device ig. 2 is a side elevation of the device; Fig. 3 is a section jalongline 33 of 1; Fig. 4 is an elevation of the under side of bending pressure applied thereto.

1929. Serial No. 364,535.

the device; Figs. 5 and 6 indicate certain cam portions formed respectively on the lower and upper mating members of the coin carrier, Figs. 5 and .6 being taken respectively along lines 55 and 66 of Fig. 3, and Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are diagrams showing respectively, different relative positions of the parts of the coin carrier, to illustrate its operation.

As will be apparent from the following description, the present invention does not intend to cover the mechanism of a vending machine or other usual coin actuated mechanism, but the purpose of the present invention is limited to the rejection of improper actuating elements for sucha machine, such as the slugs or blanks often attempted to be employed in place of regulation coins. The present device, however, includes a rotating shaft, for actuating purposes, which shaft may be extended or connected for the purpose of actuating the usualmechanism of certain known types of vending machines.

It will be understood that the present invention is described, in detail, by reference to a specific, presently preferred embodiment, and that the following description of the example is to be considered in an illustrative and not in a. limiting sense, since it is obvious that various modifications ma be made in the location and arrangement of parts, as well'as in the variouscombinations thereof, without departing from the spirit and full intended scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

By way of providing a preliminary explanation of the principles utilized, it may be indicated that the invention involves subjecting to a steady pressure, the coin or slug introduced for operating the vending mecha nism, resulting in a bending or shearing stress which is adjustable in degree, so that, for example, afive cent piece will just resist, without deflection or distortion, the After having been subjected to this bending tendency, the coin or slug is carried between'the opposed, oppositely presented cam surfaces, of a carrier; the cam surfaces being formed on separate elements which are resiliently ice tended normally to receive and pa by slight adjustment to a position where its *against a cam member manually rotating a is provided maintained in coacting relation, with the cam surfaces adjacent each other. The elements of the carrier, including those portions upon which the cam surfaces are formed, are so constructed as barely to accommodate, without friction thereon, a coin intended to operate the mechanism with which it is used. If a slug of greater thickness than, say a five cent piece, is inserted and has resisted the bending pressure, this thickness will cause it to be frictionally re: tained between the cam member in a manner to result in a predetermined abnormal length of travel within the carrier to cause its dis charge at a point other than the coin receivingslot of the vending mechanism. Coins of lesser thickness than the ones intended for normal use are, in practically all cases, distorted under the bending influence of the previous operation of the machine, so that their effective thickness is substantially greater than that of the coin for which the vending mechanism is designed. For brevity and a better understanding of the parts and operation of the present apparatus, the

action of a coin or slug will be described in its course through the device, along with the description of parts of the machine. For further convenience of description, the present disclosure is'directed to a machine inss a five cent piece, although it will be understood that the same apparatus may be employed,

and minor modifications,.in connection with a vending machine or the like which may, be adapted for one cent pieces, quarters or any other standard coin. V Referring now by numerals to the drawings, it will be seen that the device is pro vided at one end with a coin receiving slot 10, which is by preference, of a width barely in excess of the diameter of a five cent piece: thus this slotfof itself, forms a means of rejecting at the outset, any slug of.apprevciably greater diameter than the coin intendedto be usedin the vending device. A coin'inserted in the slotlO falls by gravity lower edge rests 11, (best seen in Fig. 3). At this point the device is actuated, by

handle 12', thus rotata shaft 13, to

In" the exin in the same direction, which the handle 12 is aflixed.

ample shown, the shaft 13 rotates as viewed in Fig.3. Formed integrally upon the shaft 13 or secured thereto is a cam 14,.the nose of which isadapted, upon rotation of the shaft 13, to' impinge upon an inner cam surface ofa hookor crank 15, to result in an outward movement of the hook 15. This hook is pivot-ally'secured, as bya through pin 16, to a bridgeportion 17, which with sliding journals 18 (Fig. 2) and arranged for a limited reciprocating clockwise,

. p, who

movement along one or a plurality of studs such as 19. Extending between, and slidable along the recited studs 19, is a bridge member 20; and between the bridges 17 and 20, is disposed a relatively heavy, or stifi, coil spring 21, which in the present example is arranged concentrically with a, plunger 22. Also associated with, and bypreference concentrically disposed upon, the studs 19, are a pair of springs 23, which are employed to assist ,in .the'returnmovement of the unitary cross-head or rack structure constituted by the bridge portions 17, 20, and other related elements. U on movement of the hook '15, as indicated a ove, the rack structure, including the members 17 and 20 will move, say to the right in Fig. 3, with the result that the plunger 22 will be moved steadily againstthe central portion of the coin or slug previously deposited in the slot 10. In the frame of the machine there is formed a depression or pocket, such as 24 (Fig. 3), which serves to remove from about the central portions of the coin, any reinforcement against the pressure of the plunger 22, whereby the coin or slug is subjected'to a centrally applied shearing or bending force. It will be seen from'the shape of the cam 14, and the cam engaging surfaces on the hook .155, that the'movement of the plunger will be steady, and progressively outward, or to the right in Fig. 3, with the result that the coin in slot 10 is subjected, not to a pronounced impact, but rather to a steady, but

If a good coin is employed, its

lat-ion coin, and in order to maintain the effective pressure of the. plunger 22, at a safe maximum, it is necessary to provide for adj ustment of. the force or pressure applied to the coin.

plished, in the present example by means of This adjustment is accoma pair of threaded studs 25 secured into the bridge member-2O and having their threaded portions extending through the bridge member'17, an adjustable distance determined by the setting of nuts 26. Itwill' appear froin Figs. 1 and 3 that the plunger 22 is arranged for reciprocal movement with'respect to the bridge 17, hence the force or pressure applied either to a coin or slug in the slot 10, will be proportional to the initial compression giveh the spring 21, as determined by the proper adjustment of the nuts 26 on the studs 25. In practice the spring compression is so lim- 'springZl is'positioned atits ends by a collar 27, disposed adJacent to bridge member '17 and bearinv tliere against, .a collar 28, disposed adjacent the bridge member 120. The collar 27 is preferably freely movable "along theplunger 22,"while the poniqn'as maybe," andis by preference, formed, intogrally with the plungerpbutmay be otherwise secured thereto as by a through pin, or the like, i(not shown) Upon taking up the nuts 26, for adjusting p'nrposes,the collars27 and QSaredrawn closer together with the effect of "compressing" the spring 21.

Since the. collar 2T-is'movable' along the plungergit will beseen', as from Fig.3, that the pressure imparted. to the plunger, due to the actuation of cam .14, hook 15 and the bridgemeniber1T, is directly proportionate to the compression of the spring 21, as deter mined by its adjustment;

While the hook I5 and cam 14 are preferably constructed as indicatedin Fig. 3, it 'will beunderstood' that any suitable equivalent of this driving arrangement may'be'ieniployed, for example; an eccentric carried by the shaft 13' towhich may .be connected an eccentri strap which is, for examplqpivoted to the member .17. Upon actuationcf the shaft 13,;as described, the effect of cam 14 and its engagement with the hook member 15 as described, is to actuate theplunger 22 toward the depression 24, and tending to extend the outer end of the plunger across the coin slot 10. During this actuating stroke, due to the movement of the bridge member 20, it will be obvious that the springs 23 will have been compressed to a certain extent. This compression serves to effect the return increment of the parts 17, 20, 22, etc., to their original, normal positions of rest.

Secured to the shaft 13, in the present example, is'abevcl gear 30, arranged to mesh with an associated bevel gear 31 which may be disposed on a vertical. preferably stationary: stud shaft 32 arranged for the support of a journal or bearing 33 for the shaft 13.

'By preference, there is formed integrally with the bevel gear 31, a driving pinion 34, which in turn meshes with a similar pinion 35 for the purpose of rotating at least one of a pair of cam members such as 11. heretofore noted, and 36, both of which are disposed on a. pivot shaft 37. The cams 11 and 36, together constitute a coin carrier, as will hereinafter appear, and it will be seen that this carrier, or one of its cam portions, upon being actuated by the gear 35, which operates responsively to the rotation of shaft 13. must always be operated in a predetermined timed relation with the shaft 13 and its actuating handle.

As will be seen from Fig. '3, the cam members 11 and 36 are yieldingly positioned with their cam surfaces adjacent each other, by, a

coil vspring 38 disposed between an enlargement orhea'd on the pivot shaft '37, and the upper surface of the inside cam. Inthis manner terrains are yielding-1y held adjacent other, nemnn' in themanner indicated byFig, 3."

Fri-cm sand 6', respectively, will be 7 seen the natural and construction of the adjacentlypresented cam surfaces oft-liekam members and '11. The innermostjcam'lh WiUCh is tied to the gear 35,f1s provided with ah ext ernalproeetingflange 39, which .ex-

tends peripheral y beyondtheiadjaeent' margin ofjth e carn lti, a' sulfieientdistance's'o as to seal, at all times-any openingwhich may be created bet-iteenthecams by: the action of a deformed slueor other operatingelement. This flange extends, howeven jover only. a portion of the circumference of the {can '11, as will appear from Fig. eghawa'eh the terminiof tliis flange, the cam'is pr ovided with a depression 40., e; tend ing,',say'over a 90 degree sector of'the" inner surface of the cam,

"and disposed adjacent one or the'lateral limitsof the'de )ies'sio'n 4D, is pin 41, project 'ing outwar ly..beyond the inner: surface of cain ,'f or a purpose hereinafterappearing. 1 .lhe, earn 36 isrprovided with a depression 42,similar in scope and depth to the 'depression .40, except that the sector 42 includes a slope 43 extending between the depressed portion 42 and a normal or plane portion 44 of the cam 36. Thisplane portion 44 is again depressed, say over a sector of. 60 degrees, to form alow point or area 45. Extending on each side of and between the low areas 42 and 45 is a groove 46, circular in form, and concentrically disposed on the cam. This groove serves as a runway or guide for the pin 41, when the cams are in assembled relatiomfor a purpose hereinafter appearing.

As will be noted, particularly from Fig. 5 et seq., the cam 36 is provided with a radially extending arm 47 which is normally adapted to impinge against a stationary portion 48 of the frame. and at other times adapted to impinge against a pin 49, also preferably disposed on the frame. These projections coact with the arm 47 to limit the angular movement of the cam 36, i'nthe example shown, to substantially 45 degrees. It will be under stood that the cam 36 is freely rotatable, between recited lin it. about the pivot 37, and that any movement of this cam is elfected solely by its frictional engagement, either di though the can 36 is stationary the present provision for its limited movement being made to facilitate any, necessary adj nstment and clearing of thecarrier.

The relation of the adjacent surfaces on the cams 1 1 and-36, and the timed driving relation between the gear and the pinion 35, is such t-hat until after the action of plungis.completed,,nocoin receiving opening is presented ,at the periphery of the carrier, ad acent the coin slot 10. However, immediately att er..the plungerhhas been brought to. bear against the coin in slot. 10, and is retracted t o theposition of Fig. 3 by springs 23,.thedep ression $2 in cam 36 is open underneatl t-he, slot 10,- (Fig. 7.) In register with jthedepressien 42, so as to effect an enlarged coin-receiving,,opening, is the depression. a0 in. 11 1.,- Immediately after this coin receivingopening isjbrought adjacent the slot 110,, the carrier, receives the coin; or [slug by ti y an d the; cam 11: rotates clockwise, [and.,8,),,,propelling the coin overa circ ular patli, means. ofthe ,pin 4:1,norally javeling in the slot 4:6, and coactin'g .with the flange fitl u It may benoted that the cam 36 may orniaynot have been previously rotatedcounterclockwise, (Fig. 7). In either event, the first eighth revolution 01 50 of the carnfll find sf the ,cam 36 rotated byfriction with the coin or slug, or with the cam 11 to the position indicated by Fig. 7, andpositioned againshfurther immediate clockwise rotation engagement of the ;pin e7 with projection-48.

The continued clockwise rotatiorrof cam ll-carries the coin overthe slope 43.0ncamj36 andadjacent the plane surface thereof, (Fig. 8) the coin or slug at this point being poclet ed within the depression 450 of canrll, and the depth of this depression being not substantially greater than the thickness, say oi a five cent piece. In the case of a good coin, the. coin willibe discharged from the periphcry of the carrierafterit has rotated'substantially 90 degrees. or until one of the boundaries or. termini of the depression comes to a position somewhat beyond the horizontal, so as to discharge the coin by gravity into the usual coin-receiving slot of the vending machine or the like with which the device used, (Fig. 9). Since the depression 40 in cam 11 is of adepth corre sponding to the thickness of a five cent piece or other intended coin, there will be no appreciable friction preventing discharge of such coin. by gravity, into the coin slot. In the preceding description it will be understood that the continued use of good coins, permits the cam 36 to remain stationary in theiposition shown in Fig. 5. The operation of the carrier as thus far described, has dealt with the passage-therethrough of a normal. undistorted, undeflected coin,'such as intended to be deposited in the vending machine.

over-all thickness of the piece' Upon release of the plunger, the deformed slug will nevertheless fall into the enlarged aperture in t-liecarrier,resulting from coincidence of the depressions 42 and 40, respectively, in the cams 36 and 11. The action of pin 41 is such as to force the deformed slug over the slope orshoulderglfl LO a position upon or adjacent the plane surface it, (Fig. 8). The increased effective thickness of tie slug will,

however, separate or spread the cams against the pressure of spring 38. Continued rota-- tion of. cam 11 will not, in thiscase, result in the discharge of; the. slug at a position in line with the coin-receiving slot of the vending machine, as shown iii Fig. 9, but will retain and carry the slug, b y friction, to the point where the depression 40 of cam ll comes into coincidence with-the depression in cam 3.6. This discharge position of a defective element will best be seen in Fig. 10.

From the preceding description, and a study of Fi s. 7to 10 inclusive, it will be obvious that the discharge of a defective,

I thin or weak element, such as a slug, will be :at a point substantially different than the point. ofdischarge, say of a good five cent piece. The discharge of the slugs or counterfeits, may be efliected into a separate receptacle or into the casing of the machine, so that the slu is obviously ineffective to operate the ven ing machine or like apparatus with which the present device is associated. The depending flange 39, described above, servcsto prevent the receipt or discharge oi either a slug or coin at other than the intended points and at the same time guards against any unintended escape of either a. coin or slug from the periphery of the carrier during its rotating movement. Obviously, the flangev 89 serves as a cutoii' to prevent more than one coin entering the carrier. at a time, and since the coin-receiving opening is not presented adjacent the slot 10 until after substantially a complete cycle of movement of the carrier. any tendency toward double charging of the carrier, is prevented.

It will be seen from the preceding description that the preferred embodiment of the invention is a machine of exceedingly simple and sturdy. construction, that it consists of relatively few moving parts, and is characterized by the absence of small, expensive, machined portions, whereby the device may be produced in quantities at a reasonable cost. Trials and experiments with a machine conlit structed as described, indicate that it functions with absolute reliability in rejecting practically all of the usual types of slugs and counterfeit actuating elements, commonly employed to defraud vending machines and the like. A further noteworthy advantage, among others, is attained in the adjustment provision, and in the means for actuating the plunger 22, with a steady movement, thus obviating all danger of defacing standard coins.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a testing device for coins and like elements, means tending to deform the element under test, a receiver for the tested element, and means permitting expansion of the re ceiver responsive to the degree of deformation of the tested element.

2. In a testing device for coins and like elements, means tending to deform the element under test, means forming a receiving device for the tested element and adapted to deliver said element in locations predeter mined according to the extent of deformation of the element.

3. In a testing device for coins and like elements, means tending to deform the element under test, a carrier for said element, and means, associated with the carrier, for determining the extent of travel of the element therein, according to the degree of deformation of the element.

4. In a testing device for coins and like elements, means tending to deform the element under test, means for receiving and carrying said element, and means associated with the carrying means, for determining the duration of retention in the carrier according to the extent of deformation of the element.

5. In a testing device for coins and like elements, means tending to deform the element under test, receiving and carrying means for said element including a pair of members having separable portions, and arranged to be moved relative to each other.

6. In a testing device for coins and like elements, means tending to deform the ele mentunder test, a coin carrier associated with the deforming means and including a pair of relatively movable members having adjacent cam surfaces adapted to sort the elements under test.

7. In a testing evice for coins and like elements, means tending to deform the element under test, a coin carrier associated with the deforming means and including a pair of relatively rotatable members having adjacent surfaces, each of said surfaces having a coin receiving depression therein, and a projection on one of said members, adapted, upon rotation of said member, to impel the coin relative to the other member.

8. In a testing device for coins and like elements, means tending to deform the element under test, a coin carrier associated with the deforming means and including a pair of adjacently disposed, relatively rotatable members, each having a coin receiving depression adjacent the other member, and means for rotating one of said members to effect coincidence of said depressions, whereby to effect discharge of a deformed coin or like element.

9. In a testing and sorting device for coins and like elements, the combination with means tending to deform the element under test, of a carrier including a pair of adjacently disposed, relatively rotatable cams having selectively registrable projections and depressions adapted to be brought into distinct, predetermined relations according to the effective thickness of the element under test; and means for rotating one of said cams in timed relation with the actuation of said deforming means.

10. In a. testing device for coins and like elements, means tending to deform the element under test, a carrier disposed to receive the element from said deforming means, said carrier comprising a pair of relatively rotatable members, one of said members having a depression adapted to accommodate a coin of normal proportions, a peripheral projection on one of said members, interrupted to form a marginal coin opening adjacent said depression, and means for rotating one of said members in timed relation with the actuation of said deforming means.

11. In a testing and sorting device for coins and like elements, receiving and holding means for the element under test, a member adapted to be brought into engagement with the element under test, means for subjecting the element to a steady pressure through said member, a rotatable carrier for the element under test, means for operating the carrier in timed relation with the engaging member, and means associated with the carrier for determining the extent of travel of the element therein, according to the degree of deformation of the element.

12. In a device for testing and sorting coins and like elements, coin receiving and holding means, a plunger adapted to be brought into engagement with the element under test, means for subjecting the element to a steady pressure applied through said plunger, a carrying and sorting device adapted to receive said element, and including a pair of relatively rotatable members, each having a depression adjacent the other member, and means for rotating one of said members in timed relation with the actuation of said deforming means.

THOMAS W. MILTON.

lUa

lit) 

